USB multi-host device, vehicle including the USB multi-host device and method for controlling the USB multi-host device

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) multi-host device includes a plurality of upstream ports connected to a first host and a second host, a storage for storing data to be transmitted from the first host to the second host through the upstream ports, and a controller, and if the storage receives the data, the controller transmitting a signal based on the received data to the second host, and transmitting the stored data to the second host.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A universal serial bus (USB) multi-host device comprising:
 a plurality of upstream ports connected to a first host, a second host, and a slave device; 
 a storage for storing data to be transmitted from the first host to the second host through the upstream ports; and 
 a controller, and if the storage receives the data, the controller transmitting a signal informing the second host that the first host has data to be transmitted to the second host based on the received data to the second host through an IN interrupt end point, and transmitting the stored data to the second host, 
 wherein the controller controls the USB multi-host device to serve as a slave of the first host and the second host such that the first host and the second host maintain a host function for the slave device while the controller is transmitting the stored data to the second host. 
 
     
     
       2. The USB multi-host device according to  claim 1 , wherein if there is a plurality of hosts, the controller determines a host scheduled to transmit the data on the basis of the received data. 
     
     
       3. The USB multi-host device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller transmits a predefined packet in such a manner that each of the first host and the second host recognizes the controller as a logical network device. 
     
     
       4. The USB multi-host device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller allows the first host to transmit the data to the storage through an OUT Bulk end point. 
     
     
       5. The USB multi-host device according to  claim 1 , wherein if the data is transmitted to the second host, the controller transmits the data to the second host through the IN Bulk end point. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle including a universal serial bus (USB) multi-host device, the USB multi-host device comprising:
 a plurality of upstream ports connected to a first host, a second host, and a slave device; 
 a storage for storing data to be transmitted from the first host to the second host through the upstream ports; and 
 a controller, and if the storage receives the data, the controller transmits a signal informing the second host that the first host has data to be transmitted to the second host based on the received data to the second host through an IN interrupt end point, and transmits the stored data, to the second host, 
 wherein the controller controls the USB multi-host device to serve as a slave of the first host and the second host such that the first host and the second host maintain a host function for the slave device while the controller is transmitting the stored data to the second host. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein if there is a plurality of hosts, the controller determines a host scheduled to transmit the data on the basis of the received data. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller transmits a predefined packet in such a manner that each of the first host and the second host recognizes the controller as a logical network device. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller allows the first host to transmit the data to the storage through an OUT Bulk end point. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle according to  claim 6 , wherein if the data is transmitted to the second host, the controller transmits the data to the second host through the IN Bulk end point. 
     
     
       11. A method for controlling a universal serial bus (USB) multi-host device comprising:
 storing data to be transmitted from a first host to a second host; 
 transmitting a signal informing the second host that the first host has data to be transmitted to the second host based on the transmitted data to the second host through an IN interrupt end point; 
 transferring the stored data to the second host; and 
 controlling the USB multi-host device to serve as a slave of the first host and the second host such that the first host and the second host maintain a host function for a slave device while transferring the stored data to the second host. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 if there is a plurality of hosts, determining a host scheduled to transmit the data on the basis of the data. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of transmitting the signal based on the transmitted data to the second host includes transmitting a predefined packet to the first host and the second host. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of transferring the stored data to the second host includes transmitting, by the first host, the data through an OUT Bulk end point. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of transferring the stored data to the second host includes if the data is transmitted to the second host.